Our Team

John Fitzsimons

CEO

John Fitzsimons is the CEO of Camara Education, a social enterprise that uses technology to deliver 21st century skills and, as such, improve education in disadvantaged communities around the world. John has an engineering and IT background, having worked with Analog Devices before spending two years in Tanzania setting up the IT function in Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Prior to Camara, John ran a consulting business that was part of Dell. John has a Degree in Electronic Engineering from University College Dublin and an MBA from Smurfit School of Business and is a board member at Dochas, the umbrella organisation for International NGOs in Ireland.

Jim Murray

Workshop Manager

Jim Murray is the Workshop Manager and is responsible for the day to day running of Camara’s computer workshop since he joined Camara in 2007. Before coming to work with Camara, Jim spent many years working on building sites in Ireland, the UK and Germany. His management and organisational skills are key in making sure that donated computers are refurbished and ready for dispatch in a timely fashion. Jim has a keen interest in the GAA, and is still awaiting the day that Sam Maguire returns to Mayo.

Lorna Burke

Global HR Manager

Lorna Burke joined Camara in February 2012 as Shared Services Manager. Lorna previously worked in logistics, financial services, senior recruitment and client operations management within the corporate sector and was keen to make a move to the not-for-profit sector. In October 2016 Lorna was appointed Global HR Manager with responsibility for leading HR globally across the Camara network including Ireland, UK and Africa.

Breon Timmons

COO Computer Refurbishment

Breon Timmons joined Camara in 2015 as COO and is responsible for the refurbishment operations in Dublin and London which supply our hubs in Ireland and Africa. Breon has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and brings with him 15 years of operations management experience. He previously worked with Oxfam Ireland modernising their retail operations. Prior to moving into the Not for Profit sector, Breon spent many years in the Commercial sector, helping establish operations for well known high street retailers.

David Martyn

Global Impact & Learning Manager

David joined Camara in November 2014 as Monitoring & Evaluation Officer having spent the previous two years working in Monitoring & Evaluation in Uganda. David brings a number of years of experience across the business and development sectors in Ireland and Africa. He holds a LL.M from the Irish Centre of Human Rights, National University of Ireland, Galway and an MSc in African Studies from the University of Edinburgh.

Mark Fox

Computer Reuse Manager

Mark Fox is the Computer Reuse Manager of Camara Education and sources computers from organisations and other channels for reuse in disadvantaged schools in Africa, Haiti and Ireland. Mark has a BSc Degree in Marketing Management from the University of Dublin and a Certificate in Sustainable Development. Prior to joining Camara in 2009, Mark was employed in Dell for 9 years in a number of marketing analyst roles.

Tim Hurley

Director of Development

Tim Hurley joined Camara in October 2014. Tim is responsible for raising funds vital to support Camara’s operations throughout the world. He is an entrepreneurial individual with over twenty years International Business Development experience in the technology sector in Ireland, the UK and the USA, as well as previous Corporate Fundraising experience in Ireland.

Stephanie Nolan

Volunteer & Communications Manager

Stephanie Nolan joined Camara in January 2016 as Volunteer & Communications Manager. She previously worked in Volunteer Management with Special Olympics Ireland and more recently as Volunteer & Communications Manager for Solas Project. Stephanie is passionate about volunteering and communications and has a BSc Degree in Management Science from Trinity College.

Raymond Hughes

Workshop Supervisor

Ray Hughes initially volunteered with Camara in 2013 as part of his work placement with Dublin Institute of Technology. Following his Bachelor’s Degree in Networking Technologies in 2014 he then rejoined Camara as a volunteer. He subsequently completed a JobBridge internship role as Workshop Supervisor with Camara which resulted in him becoming a member of the staff team in 2015. Ray’s role involves inducting, managing and training volunteers in our refurbishment workshop as well as liaising with recruitment partners and volunteer supervisors.

Maria O' Brien

Finance Director

Maria graduated from UCD with a B.Comm and a Masters in Accounting and is a qualified accountant, ACCA. Maria worked in the financial services sector in Ireland before crossing over to the development sector over 10 years ago.
She has worked in various finance roles in the sector and completed a number of overseas assignments too.
Maria is very passionate about development and excited to be part of the Camara team.

Bernard Coffey

Financial Accountant

Bernard Coffey joined Camara in August 2015 as Financial Accountant working closely with the Finance Director on the financial reporting and compliance aspects of the organisation. Bernard has vast experience of the financial sector having worked for Ireland’s leading plc in the early part of his career rising to the position of Financial Director in one of its subsidiaries. He has also worked in the retail, commercial and construction industries and more recently with charity organisations advising and improving their financial information processes.

Megan Connolly

Bookkeeper

Megan Connolly joined Camara in February 2016 as Bookkeeper. She is a member of Accounting Technicians Ireland and is working toward becoming a fully-qualified accountant. Megan completed a Masters in Ancient Classics at NUIM and her academic interests have led to experience in a variety of sectors including education and ICT. Her previous roles include finance and IT support, website administration, student mentoring, and community outreach. She is a strong believer in the value of education.

Zelalem Dersehe

Global Learning & Development Officer

Zelalem initially joined Camara Education in March 2016 as an M&E intern and became an employee in October of that year. He now supports all hubs in M&E and impact measurement. He previously worked for a number of NGOs and corporate companies in Ethiopia, Sweden and Ireland in Project Management and M&E related positions. His passion for social causes has led him to work in different sectors including Refugees, HIV/AIDS and Livelihood programs for over 9 years. Zelalem holds MSc in Physical Geography from Lund University and MA in Leadership for Organisation from Malmo University in Sweden.

Camara Africa Centre Team

Lotta Kinnunen

Head of Africa Operations (CAC)

Nairobi, Kenya

Lotta joined Camara Education as the Africa Operations Manager in 2015 and now oversees Camara Education’s operations in Africa. She supports the hubs and hub CEOs on a daily basis, together with the Camara Africa Centre team. She has worked in international development in southern and eastern Africa for a number of years, and has experience in a variety of sectors including , enterprise and business development, agricultural and environment. She is an experienced project planner and manager, and has experience as a technical adviser in mainstreaming gender, issues of social development and climate sustainability.

Lotta’s academic background is in social sciences and international development but she also has more than ten years experience in sales and marketing and customer service roles in the private sector.

Farid Ali

Technical Director (CAC)

Mombasa, Kenya

Farid Ali is the Technical Director for Camara Africa Centre and is based in Mombasa, Kenya. He was amongst the first volunteers to join Camara Education in 2005. He is very experienced and has spent a lot of time on the ground working for Camara. Farid Ali assisted in setting up the education hubs in Kenya (Mombasa and Lamu), Rwanda, Lesotho, Uganda and Zambia and is responsible for bringing the level of all the education hubs in Africa to the same standard.

Mathieu Lacasse

Global Education Manager (CEL)

Mathieu has worked in international educational development in Central America, Caribbean, Africa and Europe for the past six years focusing on teaching and learning practices. He completed a Masters in Science Education at Universite Laval in Canada with a focus on cross-disciplinary framework for studying different forms of human practices as development processes, both individual and social levels interlinked at the same time. His academic background and personal interest have led him to work in a variety of sectors including science teaching, ICT in education, education policies and policy analysis. Mathieu joined Camara in 2015 and oversees the education and training programmes. He works together with the CEL Education Department and the Camara Africa Centre Team in designing and implementing the educational programmes and supporting all the education teams across our network.

Justin Keane

Camara Zambia & Lesotho CEO

Justin was appointed CEO of Camara Lesotho in April 2013 and CEO of Camara Tanzania in August 2014. In August 2016 he departed Tanzania taking over the role of CEO Camara Zambia – he currently oversees both Lesotho and Zambia operations. Justin holds qualifications in mathematics, archaeology and education, and has a background in ICT and communications.

Yared Ayele

Camara Ethiopia Country Director

Yared joined Camara’s Team in January 2015 and is Camara Ethiopia’s Country Director. Prior to joining Camara, Yared worked for Accenture Consulting for 5 years in the US before he packed his belongings moved to Ethiopia to work in the area of ICT in Education. Since then, Yared has worked as an ICT Consultant for Ministry of Education and has also served as an ICT Director of Dire Dawa University. Yared is passionate about transforming the delivery and quality of Education through ICT. He has a BSc in Informatics and is a Masters candidate in Management and Leadership.

Masoud M. Ali

Camara Kenya CEO

Joined Camara in March 2014. Holds a bachelors degree ( Bachelor of Arts). Has had the opportunity to work as a high school teacher, as an Early Childhood Development teacher trainer, managed an Early Childhood Project of the Aga Khan Foundation between 2007- 2012. Worked for Chemonics International- Kenya Transtion Initiative ( USAID funded ) between mid 2012 to Feb 2014. Happy to get the opportunity to work for Camara to enhance education and the use of ICT in Kenyan schools and the general community.

Cynthia Ouna Mwaniki

Regional Finance Specialist (Africa)

Cynthia joined Camara in February 2017 as Regional Finance Specialist (Africa) which involves monitoring and supporting the finance function of the African hubs. Cynthia is CPA qualified and has over 15 years experience overseeing and monitoring the financial and grant management of multi donor funding, taxation, auditing and compliance. She holds an MSc in Finance and a BComm in Accounting. Cynthia is passionate about children and is also involved in charities that support children living with Cerebral Palsy in Kenya.

Our vision is a world-class technology-enabled education accessible to all.

Our mission is to transform education using technology to empower disadvantaged students.

Our Patrons

President Michael D. Higgins

Camara is delighted to have President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins as our Patron. On 11 November
2011 (11/11/11), Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland. He was elected with the largest vote ever of any politician in Ireland, receiving over a million votes.

A passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society, Michael D. Higgins has previously served at every level of public life in Ireland, including as university lecturer, Councillor, Mayor, TD, Senator and Minister. Throughout his life, Michael D. Higgins has campaigned for human rights and for the promotion of peace and democracy in Ireland and in many other parts of the world, from Nicaragua and Chile to Cambodia, Iraq and Somalia. In opening Camara’s current HQ in Dublin President Michael had this to say:

“Camara is a leading example of how a valuable idea can lead to a very real positive social change. Its work improves the quality of childrens’ lives and gives them hope in their future. Camara’s dedication to using technology to improve education in disadvantaged communities around the world and at home is such valuable work.”

Lord David Puttnam

David Puttnam is the chair of Atticus Education, an online education company based in Ireland. Atticus, through a unique arrangement with BT Ireland, delivers interactive seminars on film and a variety of other subjects to educational institutions around the world. David spent thirty years as an independent producer of award-winning films including The Mission, The Killing Fields, Local Hero, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone and Memphis Belle. His films have won ten Oscars, 25 Baftas and the Palme D’Or at Cannes. From 1994 to 2004 he was Vice President and Chair of Trustees at the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) and was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship in 2006.

He retired from film production in 1998 to focus on his work in public policy as it relates to education, the environment, and the creative and communications industries. About technology he has the following to say:

“Technology has fundamentally reshaped the way in which people of every age connect with, make sense of and engage with the world.”

Our Board

Maria Mahon

Chair

Maria Mahon has almost 20 years business experience working in the financial services, media, tourism, internet and software industries. Maria now runs her own management consultancy practice. Previously she held the position of Group Chief Executive of Saongroup.com for seven years and remains on the board. Maria holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from NUI Galway, and a Masters in Business Studies (MBS) from Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business. In 2003, Maria was short listed for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year and in 2006 won the NUIG Business Alumni award. Maria is a Director of a number of leading companies in Ireland and has been Chairman of the Marketing Institute of Ireland.

Cormac Lynch

Interim Secretary

Cormac Lynch is the Founder of Camara and the CEO of Camara Learning in the UK. He has an engineering and finance background having spent 5 years as a petroleum engineer in the North Sea and 12 years as an investment banker in London, New York and Moscow. Prior to starting Camara, he was Chief Executive of NIKoil, a medium-sized Russian Investment Bank. In addition to his undergraduate degree from Trinity College Dublin (1st Class Engineering Science), he has an MSc from Imperial College London, an MBA from Stanford University and a MSc in Development Studies from UCD.

John Brown

Director

John Brown is the current Chairman of Camara Learning in the UK. He has a background in publishing and marketing. Having established John Brown Publishing, he has since managed the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, been chairman of Wisden and launched Bob Books. He is currently Chairman of a travel company, Wild Frontiers, Director of Wanderlust and Oldie magazines, Governor of Notting Hill prep School and a Trustee of Keiskamma Trust and the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Justin Kilcullen

Director

Justin Kilcullen served for twenty years as CEO of Trócaire. A qualified architect, Justin worked in Tanzania (1976-78), in Belfast on inner city housing (1979), and for the UNHCR, constructing refugee camps in S.E. Asia (1980). He was awarded the World Union of Architects Medal for the Promotion of Human Settlements (2002). He joined Trócaire in 1981 and spent four years in Laos as country director before being appointed CEO in 1993. He was President of CIDSE, the federation of Catholic development agencies (1998-2001), and President of Concord, the European Confederation of Development NGOS (2006-2012). He is Co-Chair of the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness. Justin recently qualified as a Business and Executive Coach at the UCD Smurfit Business School, Dublin.

Jonathan Kelly

Director

Jonathan Kelly is a solicitor and a partner in the Dublin law firm Philip Lee, where he has worked since 2002. His legal practice spans the areas of infrastructure projects, media/entertainment, and corporate transactions. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. He joined the Board of Camara in 2007.

Robina Walshe

Director

Bobbi Walshe is a qualified accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor, with over 20 year’s experience providing business advisory services in the areas of corporate finance, business acquisition/disposal and forensic accounting over a range of business areas. She is a partner in Russell Brennan Keane and joined the Board of Camara in 2015.

Geraldine O'Neill

Director

Geraldine O’Neill is a marketing communications consultant and a yoga teacher. She is founder of Urban Yogi, a yoga and corporate wellness company. Prior to consulting independently, Geraldine was Deputy Managing Director at Edelman, the world’s largest independent PR firm and over an 18 year period with the company, Geraldine held international roles, including head of consumer brands for Europe. She has worked with global brands on domestic and international communications programmes, many award-winning.

Geraldine holds a Masters in Communications from NUI Galway and a Diploma in Marketing. She is a Board member of the Marketing Institute and joined the Board of Camara in 2015.

Jean Cox-Kearns

Director

Jean is Executive Director of the Compliance Solutions Division of Reverse Logistics Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany. In this role she supports the development of regulatory compliance solutions for many of the major global IT companies and retailers. Prior to joining RLG Jean spent 17 years in the IT Industry working for Dell with responsibility regulatory compliance programs, leading Dell’s strategy globally for E-Waste, Battery and Packaging programs. She works pro-actively with Governments on developing legislations, is part of StEP (Solving the E-Waste Problem) and is on the NASA – Launch E-Waste Council. She has travelled extensively in Africa managing both regulatory, diversity and education programs for Dell in recycling and education areas. Jean holds a number of Directorships in Ireland and abroad

Camara Education Inc. is a registered 501 (c)3 in the US
Camara Learning Limited is registered with the Charities Commission (1135540) in England
Camara Education Limited is registered with the Revenue Commissioners (CHY 16922) in Ireland
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